Patents Examined by Kelsey Stanek
  • Patent number: 10378453
    Abstract: A turbine section for a gas turbine engine includes a first rotor assembly with a first rotor assembly bleed air source and an aft cavity that is in fluid communication with the first rotor assembly bleed air source. A second rotor assembly includes a forward cavity. A vane bleed air source is in fluid communication with the forward cavity. A seal extends between the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Julian Partyka, David R. Pack, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 10247115
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing engine heating rate to facilitate early introduction of exhaust gas recirculation after a cold start include operating an electric machine connect to the engine to apply a load to the engine. The electric machine may be operated as a generator to produce an increased engine torque demand and increase the rate of engine heating until an engine temperature and an exhaust temperature exceed corresponding thresholds. Operation of the electric machine as a generator may be stopped in response to a battery state of charge exceeding a threshold, or engine load exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paspuleti Ashish Kumar Naidu, Ian Halleron, Peter George Brittle, James Wright
  • Patent number: 10227896
    Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing infrared radiation generated by a turbine engine. A system comprises a primary assembly having a center body, a plurality of vanes extending from the center body, an outer radial duct with the plurality of vanes extending therethrough, a structural baffle, and a mixer. The primary assembly is disposed in the exhaust flow path of a turbine engine and encased in ducting and/or an airfoil. An air flow path defined between the center body and outer radial duct is axially spit by an interface rim and flow segregator. The flow segregator segregates engine core flow from ambient air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: James C. Muskat, Todd S. Taylor, Mike Nesteroff, Eric Donovan, James Carl Loebig
  • Patent number: 10215068
    Abstract: A muffler including an inlet member, an outlet member, an exhaust-gas cleaning device including an exhaust-gas cleaning material, the exhaust-gas cleaning device including a first inlet side coupling section and a first outlet side coupling section detachably coupled to the inlet member and the outlet member by couplers, and an intermediate member including a second inlet side coupling section and a second outlet side coupling section detachably coupled to the inlet member and the outlet member by couplers same as the couplers, instead of the exhaust-gas cleaning device. The intermediate member is a cylinder body allowing exhaust gas in the inlet member to flow directly to the outlet member without passing through the exhaust gas cleaning material, and includes a resistance generation section providing the intermediate member with exhaust resistance substantially equal to that of the exhaust-gas cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenori Matsunaga, Masanori Takemoto, Tomotaka Kita
  • Patent number: 10202849
    Abstract: The invention comprises a rotary engine method and apparatus configured with a self-actuating/self-damping vane system. In the rotary engine apparatus, a set of vanes extend from a rotor to a housing, whereby the rotary engine is divided into expansion chambers. Each of the vanes enclose a stressed band wound at least partially around two or more rollers. Potential energy of the stressed band, which is optionally a smart metal, provides a radially outward force on the vane toward the housing, aiding in seal formation of the vane to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Merton W. Pekrul
  • Patent number: 10196969
    Abstract: An exhaust device for an engine, interposed between an engine body, and a supercharger to be driven by a pressure of exhaust gas to be discharged from the engine body, includes a first exhaust passage and a second exhaust passage which introduce exhaust gas to the supercharger; a partition wall disposed between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage, and configured to partition the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage from each other; and a valve disposed within the second exhaust passage, and configured to adjust the flow rate of exhaust gas flowing through the second exhaust passage. The partition wall includes a communication portion for communicating between the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Einosuke Suekuni, Junji Umemura, Shuhei Tsujita, Makoto Mihara, Tomoaki Fujiyama, Hiroyuki Hamada, Kouji Hadama, Masahiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10190441
    Abstract: A flange arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes a case flange between a forward flange and an aft flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L Grogg, James L McClellan, IV, Garth J Vdoviak, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10183253
    Abstract: The exhaust gas purification device is provided with a wall flow structure substrate that has an entry-side cell, an exit-side cell and a porous partition, first catalyst parts which are formed in small pores having a relatively small pore diameter among internal pores in the partition, and second catalyst parts which are formed in large pores having a relatively large pore diameter among the internal pores in the partition. The first catalyst parts and the second catalyst parts each contain a carrier and at least one type of noble metal from among Pt, Pd and Rh supported on the carrier. The noble metal content in the first catalyst parts is smaller than the noble metal content in the second catalyst parts per 1 liter of substrate volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: CATALER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Onoe, Shingo Sakagami, Tsuyoshi Ito, Tatsuya Ohashi, Naoto Miyoshi, Masahiko Takeuchi, Akemi Sato
  • Patent number: 10184472
    Abstract: A scroll compressor and an air conditioner including a scroll compressor are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byoungjin Ryu, Younghwan Ko, Byeongsu Kim, Beomchan Kim, Baikyoung Chung
  • Patent number: 10184454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a horizontal-shaft/vertical-transmission wind turbine for generating electricity, which may be on-shore or off-shore, with reduced materials and structures in the nacelle, mast and foundation, which moves much of the equipment to the base of the mast, thereby reducing capex, enabling significant reductions in the operation and maintenance costs of the turbines, and reducing the cost of the installed power (installed MW) in a wind farm. The mechanical energy coming from the rotor is transmitted by a vertical shaft system (6) along the mast, which incorporates naval technology, and which is based on platforms (1) to neutralize harmonics and is connected to H/Vst (3) and V/Hmvst (4) transmissions, coupled using contraction and expansion joints (2). In addition to this, the rotor orientation system (YAW control) (29), which is connected to the torque control of the transmissions, the brake control and the blade pitch control, enables the rotor to be properly positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: EMBREVEL-EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE ENERGIA RENOVAVEL LTDA
    Inventor: Marcelo Monteiro De Barros
  • Patent number: 10180094
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, wherein a chemical thermal storage device is provided with a first heater including a first element generating heat when chemically adsorbing a reaction medium supplied from a storage part through a first connection pipe and desorbing the reaction medium if heated by the heat of exhaust in a state chemically adsorbing the reaction medium and a second heater including a second element generating heat when chemically adsorbing a reaction medium supplied from a storage part through a second connection pipe and desorbing the reaction medium if heated by the heat of exhaust in a state chemically adsorbing the reaction medium and wherein the control device controls the opening degrees of the first valve and the second valve so that the reaction medium supplied to the second heater is preferentially recovered at the storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 10180092
    Abstract: A snap-action valve assembly for an exhaust system is provided that includes a first conduit and a second conduit that are joined to together to define an exhaust passageway. A valve flap is disposed within the exhaust passageway for controlling exhaust flow. A shaft supports the valve flap in the exhaust passageway for rotation between open and closed positions. First and second bushings support the shaft. A pad made of wire mesh is attached to the valve flap. The pad includes an end portion that contacts the first or second conduit in the closed position and side wings that contact the first or second conduit in the open position. A resilient tongue may support the pad on an angle relative to the valve flap and a mass damper may be attached to one end of the shaft. These features dampen vibration and reduce valve flap flutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Geer, Erwin Peters, Stephen M. Thomas, William E. Hill
  • Patent number: 10174658
    Abstract: A mixer for a vehicle exhaust system includes a mixer housing that defines an interior cavity for engine exhaust gases, and which includes a doser opening formed within a wall of the mixer housing. A cone has a cone inlet opening aligned with the doser opening and a cone outlet into the interior cavity. A cylindrical member surrounds at least a portion of the cone and includes at least one window opening. At least one diverter duct is fixed to the mixer housing and has a first duct end open to the interior cavity and a second duct end at least partially overlapping the at least one window opening such that a portion of the engine exhaust gases in the interior cavity is directed to enter the first duct end, flow through the at least one window and then flow into the cone inlet opening to be mixed with a fluid injected through the doser opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventors: Philip M. Dimpelfeld, Eduardo Alano
  • Patent number: 10167765
    Abstract: A gas seal for a pipe joint in an exhaust system configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from internal combustion (IC) engine includes a seal element. The seal element includes an outer surface and an inner surface arranged concentrically about a first axis. The outer surface is configured to seal against a pipe of the exhaust system. The gas seal also includes a flow-guide element fixed to the seal element at the inner surface of the seal element. The flow-guide element defines an aperture having a shape configured to direct and focus the exhaust gas flow away from the first axis. An exhaust system and a vehicle having such a gas seal are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Randell W. Kilbreath, Kulwinder Singh, Richard Casper
  • Patent number: 10167763
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a door of an exhaust system of an engine. In one example, a door of an exhaust system may include an outer door pivotable around a first location and an inner door pivotable around a second location, with the inner door positioned within the outer door, and with an amount of opening of an aperture of the outer door adjustable by a position of the inner door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Baxendale
  • Patent number: 10161343
    Abstract: A correction device for an air/fuel ratio sensor in the present invention, the sensor issuing an output according to an air/fuel ratio and installed on the downstream from catalyst of the exhaust passage, has air/fuel ratio control means for controlling an air/fuel ratio of an exhaust gas on the upstream side from a catalyst to switch between a rich air/fuel ratio which is richer and a lean air/fuel ratio which is leaner than a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio. Moreover, correction means for correcting an output of the sensor in accordance with a difference between the output of the sensor during a predetermined period during air/fuel ratio control by the air/fuel ratio control means, and a reference output corresponding to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichiro Aoki, Takanori Sasaki, Go Hayashita
  • Patent number: 10161329
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine determines an estimated NOx value as a function of at least one engine operating parameter. The method also determines an actual NOx value using a NOx sensor positioned in an exhaust gas stream of the internal combustion engine. The method detects at least one condition indicative of whether or not the actual NOx value is accurate. The actual NOx value is used for controlling engine operation when the at least one condition indicates that the actual NOx value is accurate, while the estimated NOx value is used for controlling engine operation when the at least one condition indicates that the actual NOx value is inaccurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Adam C. Lack, Navtej Singh, Michael James Miller
  • Patent number: 10138734
    Abstract: A turbine engine turbine ring, in particular for a helicopter, in which vibratory behavior is reduced. The turbine ring includes an essentially cylindrical support, and one or more sectors forming a circle configured to define a segment of an air passage, each sector being fastened to the support by an attachment device, wherein the attachment device includes a hook portion belonging to the support and projecting towards the sector, and a hook portion belonging to the sector and projecting towards the support, the hook portions of the support and of the sector being configured to co-operate in order to fasten the sector to the support, the ring further includes a damper device provided within the attachment device and stressed radially between a portion of the sector and a portion of the support so as to damp relative movements between the sector and the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Carole Jaureguiberry, Manuel Silva
  • Patent number: 10138887
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes fixed and movable scrolls, a crank shaft and a housing. An outer peripheral portion of a top surface of the housing has an accommodation portion recessed and accommodating an Oldham coupling preventing rotations of the movable scroll around an axis. The housing has inner and outer seal ring grooves in a top surface. Inner and outer seal rings are fitted in the grooves. A portion of the top surface of the housing defined by the inner and outer seal ring grooves is higher than a surface that is closer to the inner periphery of the housing than the inner seal ring groove, and a surface that is closer to an outer periphery of the housing than the outer seal ring groove. The portion of the top surface serves as a tilt limiting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Yosuke
  • Patent number: 10132317
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a housing and scroll compressor bodies disposed in the housing. The scroll bodies include first and second scroll bodies. The first and second scroll bodies have respective bases and respective scroll ribs that project from the respective bases. The scroll ribs mutually engage, such that the second scroll body is movable relative to the first scroll body for compressing fluid. An oil return tube delivers oil from an upper region of the housing to an oil sump in a lower region of the housing. The relatively longer portion is positioned substantially vertically within the housing. The relatively longer tubular portion is non-circular and may have at least one stepped portion which corresponds to a step in the interior surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the oil return tube has a short tubular portion attached at one end to a relatively longer tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BITZER Kuehlmaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Todd M. Lynch